Internal-combustion engine



June 14, 1927. 1,632,478

A. W. HUBBELL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l flgl. If

mentor Alfred W H1413]: 211

June 14, 1927. 1,632,478

A. W. HUBBELL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W Huh]: E 11 Patented June 14, 1927.

ALFRED W. HUBBELL, OF BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA, PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY, OF BARTLESVILLE,

or DELAWARE.

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed June 11, 1926. Serial No. 115,322.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an iiriproved internal combustion engine, operating upon the two-cycle principle, embodying means for operating the two-cycle internal combustion engine at an increased horse power, with a minimum fuel consumption, by a novel fuel feed and introduction to the cylinders of the engine at a time subsequent to the scavenging of the cylinder.

A further object-of this invention is the provision of an improved two-cycle internal combustion engine which embodies novel compressed air scavenging means and fuel I feed means, by means of which to provide an efficient high speed engine operation, without crank case explosions, and one which will start relatively easy and do away with the ordinary crank case lubricant dilution to a great extent.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines;

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken thru the improved internal combustion engine, showing the two-cycle operation thereof, with a fuel charge being admitted to an engine cylinder during the compression stroke of the piston mechanism.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken thru the internal combustion engine, showing a fuel valve closed with the cylinder piston at its top stroke just prior to the ignition of a compressed fuel charge.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1 ofthe drawings.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on its respective line in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Figure 6 is a view of the relative arrangement of the crank shaft cam with respect to the fuel valve control rod, with the details in the position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. V I

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose The housing B consists of the cylinder block construction 10. of any approved formation, wherein the cylinder chambers 11 are provided in any approved number, and the cylinder block construction 10 may clude a head 12 integral or detachable with respect thereto. A crank case 14 is provided as a part of the housing B, having suitable bearings for rotatably receiving the crank shaft C.

The piston construction includes a piston 15 slidable in the cylinder chamber 11 and connected by suitable conventional connecting rods 16 with the throw of the crank shaft G.

lfnwardly of opposite walls of the cylinder block 10, for each cylinder 11, are provided exit and inlet ports 20 and 21 re spectivelv,tl1ru which the exhaust gases and a scavenging medium respectively pass. These ports are so arranged with respect to the piston 15 that at the down stroke of the latter just before the same has reached bottom dead center the same will be uncovered to permit the scavenging medium to flow thru the port 21 into the cylinder chamber 11 to drive out the exhaust gases and force them thru .the exhaust port 20. The scavenging medium in the present instance is air. In the conventional two-cycle engine the fuel is passed into'the cylinder immediately after the power stroke to drive out exhaust gases, but this is not considered economical. Therefore I provide means to force air thru the port 21 into the cylinder chamber to drive out the exhaust gases. One practical construction for admit ting this air is the provision of a check valve 25 in the crank 14: for controlling the inlet of atmospheric air thru an air inlet port 26 into the crank case compartment 27. During operatlon the piston 15 operates as Mil a pump to open the valve 25, against com-- pression of its seating. spring 28, so that upon the upstroke of the piston for compressing, a charge the air will be drawn into the crank case compartment, and this air in the crank case will be compressed during the down stroke of the piston, and the same in its compressed condition passes thru a duct 30 into the port 21, so that when the piston 15 uncovers the port 21, the compressed air will flow into the cylinder '11 to bedeflected by a conventional projection 33' into the combustion chamber 11 in such manner as to drive out the exhaust gases thru the exit port 21.

The fuel charge is admitted to the-upper end of the cylinder compartment 11, thru a port 35 which is preferably provided in the head wall 12. Integral or otherwise rigidly connected with the housing B and prefer? ably the wall 12 isa tubular extension 37 providing a -passageway or chamber 38 therethrough in axial alignment with the fuel inlet port 35. Laterally communicating with this tubular extension 37 is a detachable conduit 39 which has a passageway 40 communicating into the compartment or passageway 38; intermediate the ends of the latter.

Referring to the valve means and its operating construction a valve member 45 is provided, having a valve head 46 operating on a tapered seat'at the inlet port 35. The valve member furthermore includes a stem 48 rigid with the head 46 and axially extending thru the passageway 38 and thru an outer wall 50' at the outer end of the tubular extension 37. A rocker arm 51is pivoted at 52 intermediate its ends exteriorlyof the housing B, and upon the same in any convenient; location, having at one end thereof an operating connection at 53 with the outer end of the valve stem 48. A valve spring 54 is provided for normally urgingthe head 46 in a seated relation against the port or seat 35 to close the fuel inlet port, and this spring 54 at one end seats against the wall 50- and at its opposite end is held against movement with respect to the valve stem 48 by means of a cotter pin and washer construction 55 of conventional form. This spring 54 is of theconventional valve spring-seating type and need not have any excessive strength to accomplish the valve seating, due to the balanced arrangement by which the fuel is fed under pressure to the internal combustion engine cylinder. The rocker arm 51 at its end at the opposite side of the pivot connection with the valve is provided with a pivot connection at- 57 with an operating .tappet rod 58 which is slidably supported in bearings 59 mounted on the housing. A cam 60 is keyed on the crank shaft 0 having a throw portion 61 which operates on a roller 62 at the crank shaft end of the operating rod 58, so that it can be understood that upon rotation of the crank shaft the throw portion 61 of the cam .60 will reciprocate the operating rod 58 to Novel means is provided for feeding fuel under slight pressure above atmospheric into the internal combustion engine cylinder at a proper interval. This fuel feed construe ,tion includes an accumulating tank 65 having a compartment 66 therein. In the top wall 67 of this tank 65 a conduit 68 has a connection, which is really part of the conduit 39 and guides the flow of fuel from the compartment 66 thru thepassageway 40 into the passageway 38 of the tubular extension '37 from whence the same is regulated as to inlet into the internal combustion engine cylinder by means of the valve operation.

A pump construction 70 is provided for pumping the fuel under slight pressure into the compartment 66 and maintaining it there under a constant feed pressure. This pump 70 may comprise a casing 71 providing-a .cylinder chamber 72 therein wherein a piston 73 is reciprocably supported. The piston 73 has a connecting rod 75 which is connected to a suitable strap 76 slidably mounted peripherally [in the outwardly facing annular groove of a cam member 77 which is keyed on the crank shaft C, so that upon operation of the crank shaft C the piston 73 will be reciprocated in its chamber 72, as is obvious. The pump casing 71 includes a wall 80 having an inlet port 81 therein facing the compartment 72 in a tapered diverging relation towards said piston chamber and a second port'or opening 82 facing away from the cylinder chamber in a diyergent relation. The pump casing 71 is mounted upon a conduit 85 thru which the 1 fuel is supplied to the pump and into the tank 65, and a partition wall 86 is integrally or rigidly connected with .the con'duit 85 and the wall 80 of the pump casing 71, subdividing the passageway 88 thru the conduit 85, so that the fuel must flowv towards the wall 86 and be baflled thereby upwardly thru a piston" compartment 72 incident to piston action 73 but prevents the return flow of the fuel to the line 85. A valve 94 is provided for controlling the exit of fuel thru the port 82 into the tank 65, and this valve 94 is preferably spring operated, having a I spring 97 which may be held seated by means of a. detachable plug 98, to permit the assemblage thereof.

Referring to an operation of the inven tion, with theepiston 15 at top dead center in the cylinder chamber 11, the spark plug 100 of course supplies the necessary ignition for igniting the compressed fuel charge. which drives the piston downwardly and causes a compression of the air which has entered the crank case compartment 14 as above mentioned. At the lower end of the movement of the piston 15 the exhaust port 20 is opened to permit the exhaust of the exploded gases, and the air inlet port 21 is also opened, permitting the compressed air from the crank case to enter the cylinder chamber to act in a scavenging manner for cleaning the same. The piston now moves towards the head end of the cylinder chamber, covering ports 20 and 21 and immediately as soon as these ports are covered the cam throw 61 operates to open the valve 45. to admit fuel, under slight pressure to the cylinder chamber 11. The amount of fuel supplied may be calibrated in any approved manner, and then the valve-45 will close. and the explosive mixture will be compressed upon further upward movement of the piston 15 and the charge will be suitably ignited at the proper interval.

The fuel supplied to the passageway 38 behind the valve head 46 is under a slight pressure greater than atmospheric. to cause the fuel to quickly fill the combustion chamher. The fuel inlet valve 45 is maintained balanced for a proper operation by the means of a small piston 105, which is integral or otherwise rigid on the valve stem 48 and reciprocates in the passageway 88 of the tubular extension 37, at the opposite side of the communicating fuel passageway 40 with respect to the valve head 46. The surface which the piston 105 exposes in a facing relation with the valve head 46 is of the same area as is exposed by the valve head 46 to the passageway 38, so that when the valve 45 is closed the pressure exerted by the fuel will be evenly balanced upon the valve 45, preventing any extra tendency to seat or unseat the same, and the valve spring 54 as a consequence may be of conventional size and operates to normally seat the valve until the operating mechanism. consisting of the cam 60, rod 58 and rocker arm 51 will be operated at the suitable time by the crank shaft C to cause the valve to open.

This insures a positive closing of the valve with very little wear upon the valve mechanism and is an efficient means for operating the valve construction. in cases where the fuel is fed into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine under super-atmospheric pressure.

The relatively large fuel tank 65 is provided to hold the pressure on the fuel more nearly constant and prevent the rise and fall of pressure that would otherwise exist in the absence of the same.

It is particularly important that the valve 45 be opened immediately upon the closing of the ports 20 and 21. and before any considerable pressure'is built up in the cylinder 11.

Thepump mechanism is located at the opposite side of the throw on the crank shaft from the valve cam connection. which provides a very compact arrangement. in large engine installations the crank shaft operated pumpmay be done away with and a single large fuel pump of suflicient capacity to supply a plurality of engines or cylinders will be used. In territory where natural gas is found under sufficient pressure. the pump 70 may be done away with entirely and the natural gas used as a fuel under its natural pressure. Where liquid fuels are used they may be carried in an air tight container and an air pump operated over the head of liquid at about 20 pounds pressure to cause the forced feed of the liquid for effecting the results above. designated.

It is to be noted that the fuel valve is opened at the instant that both the inlet and exhaust ports 20 and 21 of the cylinder are closed, so that no excessive pressure exists in the cylinder, and thus removing the necessity for compressing the fuel to high pressures for proper supply at the inlet of the same to the engine cylinder.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that a simple mechanical arrangement has been provided for efficiently operating a two-cycle type of internal combustion engine in a novel manner insofar as air and fuel feed is concerned, which will result in the development of relatively great horse power in an economical manner ,over present two-cycle types of engines. I y

Various changes ,in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the fhrm of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

ll claim:

1. In a two-cycle internal combustion en gine the combination of a housing including an engine cylinder. piston operating means reciprocable in said cylinder. said cylinder having substantially oppositely disposed ports therein to the piston chan'iber which are uncovered at the lower end of the piston stroke valve means for admitting air to the engine housing incident to piston operation for compression therein and feed through one of the said ports for scavenging the cylinder chamber' after a power stroke, and

means for quick pressure feed of a substan-' ill? was

* cylinder chamber, means for reciprocating the piston, said housing having an air scavenging inlet port direct to the chamber solely regulated by the piston operating in the chamber as a valve across the said port to ,permit inlet of a uniform quantity of air intothe cylinder chamber independent of the enginespeed, said housing having an air exhaust port, for the chamber cooperably' disposed to be opened and closed to the cylinder chamber only by direct valve action of the piston thereover,a fuel inlet valve on the housing for admitting fuel to the chamber, means disposed at a location entirely remote from the cylinder chamber to supply fuel under a uniform superatmospheric pressure to the valve, and means connected with said means which reciprocates the piston for operating said fuel valve so as to admit a quantity of the pressure fed fuel to the cylinder chamber which decreases with an increasing engine speed.

3. In an internal combustion engine the combination of an engine housing having a cylinder chamber therein, a crank shaft rotatably supported by the engine housing, a piston in the cylinder chamber, means connecting the crank shaft with the piston for reciprocation in the cylinder chamber, said housing having oppositely disposed air inlet and exhaust ports communicating with the cylinder chamber intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to be uncovered only at the inner end of the pis'tonstroke, said cylinder chamber having an elongated fuel inlet passageway in the outer end thereof, a valve stem slidable in said fuel passageway hav.- ing a control head adapted to seat over the inner end of the passageway to close the same off from the cylinder chamber and having a piston member slidable in the passageway in spaced relation with the head, a conduit connected in communicating relation with the passageway between the piston member of the valve stem and the valve head, spring means normally acting to seat the valve head to close the passageway off from communication with the cylinder chamber, a cam on the crank shaft at one side of the connection of the same with the piston, means carried by the housing op erated by the cam for operating the valve,

a fuel storage tank in which the conduit above mentioned is connected, a-pump for pumping fuel into the fuel storage tank, cam means carried by the crank shaft at the oppositeside of the piston from the valve operated cam above mentioned for operating said fuel pump, and check valve means in the engine housing for operation upon the upstroke of the piston to draw air into the v housing at the opposite side of the piston from theafuel inlet passageway, said air being compressed on the down stroke of the piston for port feed thru air inlet port when the latter is uncovered by action of the piston.

4.,ln a two cycle internal combustion engine the combination of a housing having a cylinder chamber provided with air inlet and exhaust ports directly communicating with the cylindcrchamber, a piston for the cylinder chamber, means for reciprocating the piston in the cylinder chamber to open and close the said ports with respect to the chamber, a fuel valve for admitting fuel to the cylinder chamber, means operated by said means which reciprocates the piston to compress the fuel prior to admission to the 'cylto quickly open and permit closing there after of the fuel valve at a time when pressure in the cylinder chamber is below the fuel pressure and when the piston is on the start of its compression stroke and has just completely closed both of the air inlet and exhaust ports.

5. In a two cycle internal combustion en- ,gine the combination of a housing having a cylinder with air intake and exhaust ports therein, a piston in the cylinder, means to operate the piston, a fuel inlet Valve for the cylinder, a fuel supply reservoir remote from the cylinder, means to supply the reservoir with a large volume of gas fuel under lowsuper-atmospheric pressure, means for feeding fuel from the reservoir to the valve so that a substantially constant fuel pressure exists at all times on the valve at the opposite side thereof from the cylinder chamber, and means connected with said piston operating ting fuel to the cylinder in timed relation with the opening and closing of the air intake and exhaust ports.

6. In a two cycle internal combustion engine the combination of a housing having a cylinder chamber therein, a piston slidable in the cylinder chamber, a crank shaft to reciprocate the pisttm dn the cylinder chamchamber communicating with the cylinder j chamber, said intake port having a port conmeans-to operate the fuel valve A for admitnection thru the housing directly with the crank case chamber, a valve on the crank case for admitting air to the crank case chamber incident to suction created by piston aci closed the intake and exhaust ports above insane tion for placing the air in the crank case chamber under pressure to force the same into the cylinder chamber at the opposite side of the piston from the crank shaft when the piston is at the extreme inner end of its stroke, a fuel valve operahly supported by the housing at the outer end ot the piston stroke, means connecting said fuel valve with the crank shaft for operating the fuel valve to open the same at a time when the piston on its compression stroke has just passed and mentioned, a fuel supply reservoir, means valve at the opposite side thereof from saidpiston, and means associated with the fuel 20 valve to balance the fuel pressure'acting thereon.

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